Ten years. A decade. In the fast-paced world of technology, it’s a significant milestone. For Qualia, this 10-year mark isn’t just about the company’s growth; it’s about celebrating the partnerships that have been instrumental to our journey. And there’s no partnership more foundational, more emblematic of our collaborative and innovative spirit, than the one we share with Dalton & Finegold. A leading title & escrow law firm in Massachusetts, Dalton & Finegold wasn’t just an early adopter of Qualia; they were our first customer, our teacher, and a believer from day one, even before our software existed.
This is the story of that decade-long journey—a tale that begins with a chance meeting, a shared vision, and the whirring of servers in Barry Finegold’s basement, and evolves into a testament to how technology and true partnership can redefine an industry.
The Genesis: A Shared Vision & Free Basement
Every great tech story seems to have a humble beginning, and Qualia’s is no different. It was at an American Land Title Association (ALTA) meeting where Finegold, a forward-thinking partner at Dalton & Finegold, had a serendipitous encounter with Qualia’s young founders: Nate Baker, Lucas Hansen, and Joel Gottsegen. Finegold was immediately struck by their ambition. “I was impressed by their vision to build software specifically for title companies,” he recalls. This vision resonated deeply. Dalton & Finegold, like many firms at the time, was grappling with the inherent limitations of existing title & escrow software. “There were so many things that the software we were working with was limited to doing,” Finegold explains. “I felt like we were lacking being able to track files, being able to understand what’s happening in the file. I also felt there were a lot of things that could help automate the process.”
This alignment of need and vision led to Finegold becoming Qualia’s very first customer. What followed was an intensive period of collaboration. The Qualia founders moved into Finegold’s (finished) basement and immersed themselves in the day-to-day operations of a busy title & escrow firm. This wasn’t just about coding; it was about deep learning. “They really needed to see it firsthand to understand how the process goes and to see what our paralegal escrow agents go through,” Finegold emphasizes. This firsthand experience was invaluable, shaping the very DNA of the Qualia platform.
The Initial Spark: Why Finegold Believed in “Fresh Eyes” and a User-Centric Approach
What convinced Finegold to take a chance on a fledgling startup operating from his home? Paradoxically, it was the founders’ lack of prior experience in the title & escrow industry. “I think the greatest strength of early Qualia was they had no experience in title,” Finegold states. “They were open to anything.” This “fresh eyes” approach meant they weren’t beholden to preconceived notions of “how things are done.” Instead, “they pointed out a lot of things that frankly we could do better.”
From the outset, Qualia prioritized something that was often an afterthought in title & escrow software: user experience. Finegold stressed the importance of this: “If the software wasn’t pleasant to look at, wasn’t easy to use, people were going to reject it.” He set a high bar, envisioning software “as easy as booking a ticket on a major airline or a major hotel.” This was critical for adoption, especially among seasoned staff comfortable with existing, albeit clunky, systems. “The single hardest thing to do is to convince people to leave the software that they’re used to and comfortable with and switch to another software,” Finegold notes. Qualia’s early engineers rose to the challenge, building “great software that was easy to build upon,” creating a robust foundation for the decade of innovation that would follow.
A Decade of Growth: Milestones That Forged Unwavering Confidence
Over the past ten years, Qualia hasn’t just grown; it has evolved, consistently delivering on its initial promise and reinforcing Finegold’s early confidence. Several key milestones and platform advancements have been particularly transformative for Dalton & Finegold.
The Power of Integration: Accounting and Reporting Reimagined
Before Qualia, firms like Dalton & Finegold often juggled multiple systems, leading to inefficiencies and a fragmented view of their financials. Qualia changed that. By integrating accounting functionality directly into the core title production software, it allowed unprecedented insight into the firm’s financial health and operational efficiency.
The Paperless Dream, Realized
For many in the title & escrow industry, “going paperless” felt like a distant dream. Anne Webster, Chief of Operations at Dalton & Finegold, identifies “paper” as their number one pain point pre-Qualia. With its robust workflow capabilities, Qualia provided the tools they needed to finally ditch paper files. This transition was dramatically accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Christina Petrucci, Partner at Dalton & Finegold, recalls, “When COVID hit, in a weekend, we went from being full paper files to 100% paperless until the file was ready to close because our staff was all working from home.” This rapid pivot would have been impossible without a flexible, digital-first platform.
Supercharging Communication and Collaboration
Qualia didn’t just digitize files; it transformed how Dalton & Finegold’s teams worked together. With multiple office locations and various departments involved in each transaction (file opening, paralegal, title, post-closing), seamless communication was paramount. Webster highlights how Qualia provided “a way to track transactions and know what you need to work on” that enabled teams to “seamlessly communicate between the file, not only through the notes, but also through the workflow.”
This enhanced visibility extended to deeper business insights, which led to business growth. Petrucci noted that Qualia helped them in “really being able to drill in on where our business was coming from, where our expenses were going out, and where we were profiting.” This data-driven approach allowed them to identify and nurture their most loyal clients and referral sources. Furthermore, the ability to track turn times for various stages of a file—from opening to title delivery—empowered Dalton & Finegold to measure efficiency and appropriately allocate resources to meet demanding service level goals.
More Than Software: A True Partnership Forged in Trust
What truly sets the relationship between Dalton & Finegold and Qualia apart is that it transcends the typical client-vendor dynamic. “I think the really key part to the partnership is that it is a partnership,” Petrucci asserts. “It is not a client vendor relationship.”
This partnership is characterized by open communication and mutual respect. Qualia actively listens to feedback from its clients. When Dalton & Finegold suggests improvements, “it’s listened to and then questions are followed up on and there’s truly a process where every idea is evaluated,” Petrucci explains, noting that these ideas are assessed on a global scale for the benefit of all Qualia users. Indeed, the Dalton & Finegold team frequently acts as beta testers for new Qualia features, providing valuable input that helps the company continue to drive innovation in the product and across the title & escrow industry.
The continued, visible involvement of Qualia’s founders further solidifies this bond. Webster appreciates seeing them at industry conferences, particularly Nate Baker. “Nate is always there. He’s always got something great to say. His presentations are always informative and looking forward to where the industry is going.”
Qualia also fosters a community among its users, facilitating connections so firms can share best practices. Webster mentioned a time Qualia connected them with another user to refine a workflow, an experience she described as “tremendous.” Qualia conferences are another highly valued aspect, providing opportunities for information sharing, networking, and gaining insight into the product roadmap.
The Vision Realized: From Basement Dreams to Industry Standard
Reflecting on the initial vision that spurred him to take a chance on Qualia a decade ago, Finegold sees a company that has not only met but exceeded those early expectations. The core principles of user-friendliness, efficiency, and robust functionality remain, but they are now amplified by a comprehensive suite of interconnected tools, cutting-edge security features, and a deep understanding of the industry’s evolving needs. The Qualia of today is a mature, sophisticated platform that empowers firms like Dalton & Finegold to operate at peak efficiency, provide exceptional client service, and navigate the complexities of the modern real estate landscape with confidence. Finegold’s continued investment and advocacy are a powerful endorsement of Qualia’s journey and its unwavering commitment to that initial vision.
Looking Ahead: Embracing the AI Revolution, Together
The pace of technological change is only accelerating, and both Qualia and Dalton & Finegold are looking toward the future with excitement, particularly at the potential of artificial intelligence (AI).
Finegold was first drawn to Qualia because he wanted something different—something that would push his business forward and help it stand out in a competitive industry. Ten years later, the team at Dalton & Finegold sees AI as the next big differentiator to propel their business into the future. While Webster emphasizes that real estate is fundamentally about human connection—something AI cannot replicate—she believes AI will “allow us to be closer to the customer, guide them through the transaction and make sure that it’s happening smoothly and reducing the stress.” AI is expected to automate data entry and other repetitive tasks, freeing up skilled professionals to focus on higher-value activities that enhance the client experience.
Petrucci sees AI as a tool to achieve near-perfection in document processing. AI can “make sure things are perfect, drafted perfectly, no errors. We can significantly cut down on those expenses.” This focus on accuracy and efficiency means staff can transition from being data-entry personnel to becoming “managers of the technology and the processing.”
For title & escrow companies considering a technological leap, the advice from Dalton & Finegold is clear. Webster’s take is succinct: “Just do it. Be a Qualia user.”
Petrucci offers a strategic perspective: “Don’t wait for perfection when you’re adopting new technology. You want to pick Qualia because you’re picking a partner, not just a platform.” She underscores the rapid evolution of the industry: “Things are not going to change over 5 and 10 years. They’re changing over 6 months and a year.”
A Decade of Progress, A Future of Infinite Possibilities
The ten-year partnership between Qualia and Dalton & Finegold is more than a business relationship; it’s a story of shared growth, mutual respect, and a relentless pursuit of innovation. From those early days in Finegold’s basement to their current position as industry leaders, both organizations have thrived by embracing change and prioritizing collaboration.
As Qualia celebrates this milestone, we extend our deepest gratitude to Finegold, Webster, Petrucci, and the entire team at Dalton & Finegold. Your trust, your feedback, and your willingness to pioneer with us have been invaluable. Here’s to the next decade of transforming the real estate closing experience, together.
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